Planning dispute moves beyond Orkney
A planning dispute over a proposed veterinary surgery on the western edge of Kirkwall has moved to the Scottish Government after the developer challenged the refusal of permission by Orkney Islands Council councillors.
Northvet wants to build a single-storey practice on land between Hatston Brae and Grainbank. The scheme was rejected by elected members at a meeting on 26 August, despite council planning officers having recommended that it should be approved. The company’s appeal is now being examined at national level, with the developer presenting the project as a potential £3 million investment in the local economy.
The application became contentious during its time before the council. It attracted 29 objections, including representations from residents in Grainbank who questioned whether the proposed location was suitable for a veterinary development. Councillors also raised concerns about the relationship between the building and its surroundings, as well as the effect the project could have on the existing road network.
Different views over the council decision
In refusing the application, elected members said the design did not respond appropriately to the character of the area. They also concluded that the development would place an “unacceptable burden” on the roads serving the site. Those concerns led councillors to depart from the advice provided by the authority’s planning officers and from the position of key consultees.
Northvet’s representatives have strongly criticised that decision. Appeal papers submitted for the company by North Planning and Development Ltd say the practice team was “understandably aggrieved” by the committee’s ruling. They argue that the committee discussion appeared to concentrate on finding grounds for refusal instead of assessing the proposal on its merits and weighing the professional recommendation from council officials.
“They are particularly aggrieved at the dialogue which took place at the committee meeting, which appeared to be focussed on seeking to identify reasons for refusal, rather than determining the application on its own merits, and taking into account the clear officer recommendation.”
The consultants describe the council’s decision as “an entirely unreasonable decision” and maintain that the application was supported by detailed technical material. They also reject the suggestion that the building would sit poorly within the area, arguing in the appeal that its design was mindful of its surroundings.
What is at issue
| Issue | Position recorded in the appeal dispute |
|---|---|
| Proposed development | Single-storey veterinary surgery |
| Location | Land between Hatston Brae and Grainbank |
| Public response | 29 objections were lodged |
| Economic claim | Northvet says the project represents £3 million of investment |
The case places several competing considerations before the Scottish Government. Northvet says the scheme has been assessed against technical evidence and supported by the council’s own planning officers, while opponents and councillors have focused on the site’s suitability, the building’s appearance and pressure on local roads. The appeal process will therefore revisit a decision in which the elected committee did not follow the recommendation made by officials.
For Kirkwall, the outcome will determine whether the proposal can proceed at the Hatston Brae-Grainbank site or whether the council’s refusal stands. The material lodged so far sets out the competing arguments, but does not indicate when the Scottish Government will reach a decision. Until then, the future of the proposed surgery remains unresolved, with the next stage of the planning process outside the hands of Orkney’s elected members.
- Northvet has appealed the refusal of planning permission.
- The proposed surgery would be built between Hatston Brae and Grainbank.
- The Scottish Government will now consider the planning case.
